Growing Grassroots Coalition Unveils Cutting Edge Technology to Engage Young Voters in Upcoming Election

KALAMAZOO, MI – Michigan's Coalition for Progress today unveiled a first-of-a-kind television spot to engage young people to turn out and vote on Election Day through text messaging on their mobile device. The ad focuses on an instant message conversation with a young woman encouraging her friends to join "MyFuture," a Coalition project that centers on young voters. You can view the ad at www.miprogresscoalition.org.

The spot is airing on cable systems across Michigan during the final weeks of the campaign giving voters information on key issues and motivating them to get out and vote on Election Day. It also will be airing statewide on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Through "My Future," Michigan voters can sign up for regular text messages about issues young people care about, such as, elected officials who would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill women's birth control prescriptions and opposes stem cell research.

"Our goal in creating the Coalition is to engage voters across the state who share the common goal of moving Michigan forward," said Kerry Ebersole, Executive Director of Michigan's Coalition for Progress. "Young people who use text messaging as a major communication tool will now be able to share information with their friends. They can share the Coalition's facts about the economy, the environment, stem cell research and improving our education system. This is a new and innovative way to engage young voters."

Michigan's Coalition for Progress is a grassroots organization with support from around the state. The group has registered as a political action committee with the Michigan Secretary of State. The Coalition's transparent funding and operation is in direct contrast to the Republican controlled Working for Michigan's Future, a 501 (c) 4 organization, which does not disclose their donors and refuses to answer questions about who is really behind their organization.

The Coalition has launched television and radio ads in markets across Michigan, along with cell phone ringtones spreading the word that Republicans are standing in the way of moving Michigan forward. They are offering many different ways for Michigan voters to become politically active and people are responding. More then 4,000 people have signed the Coalition's petition calling for elected leaders who will move Michigan forward.